Assurance and Audits

Your stockholders, creditors, and private investors often need assurance that the financial statements accurately represent the true financial position of a company. To most business people, the term assurance service refers to financial statement audits and reviews. However, it also includes applying agreed upon procedures to accounting records in specific, designated areas of a business for which management, outside financiers, and other third parties require targeted inquiry.

Your stockholders, creditors, or private investors have different levels of risk tolerance, so we provide three levels of assurance to meet your needs.

AUDIT – HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE

An audit provides the highest level of assurance. An audit is a methodical review and objective examination of the financial statements, including the verification of specific information as determined by the auditor or as established by general practice.

Our work includes a review of internal controls, testing of selected transactions, and communication with third parties. Based on our findings, we issue a report on whether the financial statements are fairly stated and free of material misstatements.

An Audit allows you to…

Satisfy stakeholders such as employees, customers, suppliers and pressure groups, as well as the investing community, as to the credibility of published information.

Facilitate the payment of corporate tax, goods and services tax, and other taxes on-time and accurately, thereby avoiding interest, penalties, and investigations.

Comply with banking covenants.

Help deter and detect material fraud and error.

Facilitate the purchase and sale of businesses.

Here’s what you get…

You get the highest level of assurance because we go outside your company to obtain more information. Typically, we’ll have written communication with:

Your customers, to check outstanding receivable balances,

Your banks, to confirm cash or debt balances and terms,

Your vendors, to verify outstanding payable balances, and

Your attorneys, for information on pending or threatened legal action.

We also perform physical inspections by observing your inventory counting methods and perform test counts. We document and test each operating cycle, including sales and cash receipts, expenses and cash disbursements, and payroll. Our audit papers include a detailed work program to document the examinations and testing performed, as well as the client’s supporting work papers.

– – Audits Not Just for Public Entities

All public companies are required to have an annual audit, but some nonpublic entities must undergo an annual audit as well. These include local governments, not-for-profit agencies and other organizations receiving government grants.

Moreover, some financial institutions require audits of nonpublic companies based on the financing amount and/or the bank’s assessment of the company’s risk. Also, companies with absentee ownership (such as those owned by investment firms, or individuals who no longer run the business) may order audits as checks of their management teams.

REVIEW – LIMITED ASSURANCE

Less extensive than an audit, but more involved than a compilation, a review engagement consists primarily of analytical procedures we apply to the financial statements, and various inquiries we make of your company’s management team. If the financial statements or supporting information appear inconsistent or otherwise questionable, we may need to perform additional procedures.
A review doesn’t require us to study and evaluate your company’s internal controls or verify data with third parties or physically inspect assets. Rather, a review report expresses limited assurance in the form of the statement: “We are not aware of any material modifications” for the financial statements to be in conformity with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Reviewed financial statements must include all required footnotes and other disclosures.

Why might a business request a review engagement? It can be a good middle ground, providing the advantages of a CPA’s technical expertise without the work and expense of an audit.

COMPILATION – LOWEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE

In compiling financial statements for a client, we present information that is the “representation of management” and expresses no opinion or assurance on the statements. Compilations don’t require inquiries of management or analytical procedures. Instead, we rely on our knowledge of accounting principles and a general understanding of your business.
Banks often require compilations from an independent CPA as part of their lending covenants.

Which Report Should You Use?

Each type of financial statement report may suit specific circumstances, depending on requirements from your client’s bank or other parties, as well as meet budgetary needs.

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Why Work with BFB?

We are focused and dedicated to providing an excellent experience to all our clients. At BFB, we understand the tax needs of business owners and entrepreneurs and we believe your business needs a CPA that knows your accounting and tax needs. All of our clients benefit from the knowledge and experience of the BF Borgers team.

BF Borgers CPA PC

303.953.1454

contact@bfbcpa.us

www.bfbcpa.us

5400 West Cedar Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80226

Our firm is responsive.

We make it a point to respond to your calls and questions in a timely manner and make sure our clients get the answers they are looking for. We help our clients make smart business tax decisions. Companies who choose our firm rely on competent advice and fast, accurate personnel. We provide total financial services to individuals, large and small businesses and other agencies.